Bid, tender and procurement language can often seem complex and confusing, especially if you are new to tendering or have limited experience in using bids/tenders as a vehicle to be awarded contractual work.
Bid/tender documents and notices will often contain acronyms, technical terms, procurement-specific phrases, and compliance language which you would not otherwise see outside of a procurement environment. If you do not understand these key terms, you run the risk of missing an instruction, overlooking a compliance requirement, misinterpreting the evaluation criteria, or even failing to provide the evidence needed to support your response.
At the Evolve Network Group we have created this glossary to help suppliers understand common bid terminology and acronyms used across tender documents, procurement portals, framework agreements, and even beyond contract award into delivery. It is designed as a practical reference for businesses preparing bids, reviewing opportunities, or building internal bid capability. There is also a host of acronyms used for different commissioning bodies.
Acronym
Stands for
What this means in bidding
BAFO
Best and Final Offer
A final offer submitted by suppliers, usually after clarification, negotiation, or earlier evaluation stages of a bidding/procurement process.
BAU
Business as Usual
Normal service delivery or operations outside exceptional mobilisation or transformation activity.
BCP
Business Continuity Plan
A plan showing how the organisation will continue operating during disruption and foreseen/unforeseen events.
BPSS
Baseline Personnel Security Standard
A pre-employment screening standard used for some government and public sector roles – particularly relevant in defence commissions.
CCS RM
Crown Commercial Service Reference Number
Many CCS frameworks use “RM” reference numbers to identify specific commercial agreements.
CDP
Central Digital Platform
The UK government platform introduced under the Procurement Act 2023 for publishing procurement notices, supplier information, and public procurement opportunities.
CE
Cyber Essentials
A UK cyber security certification scheme.
CE Plus
Cyber Essentials Plus
A higher level of Cyber Essentials certification involving technical verification.
CPD
Continuing Professional Development
Ongoing learning and training for staff.
CPV
Common Procurement Vocabulary
Codes used to classify goods, works, and services in public procurement notices.
CQ
Clarification Question
A question submitted to the buyer during the tender process – typically via an online portal/platform.
CQ Log
Clarification Question Log
A tracker used to record questions submitted to the buyer and responses received and shared locally with all participating bidders.
CQC
Care Quality Commission
The regulator for Health and Social care services in England. It is often a mandatory requirement that you have both a registration and a ‘Good’ inspection rating before you can bid for certain contracts in the public sector.
CSR
Corporate Social Responsibility
An organisation’s approach to ethical, social, environmental, and community responsibilities. This is key for additional ‘social value’.
DBS
Disclosure and Barring Service
Checks used to help assess suitability for roles involving children, vulnerable adults, or sensitive work.
DEI
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Similar to EDI (below), more commonly used in some private sector or international contexts.
DM
Dynamic Market
A list of qualified suppliers eligible to participate in future procurements under the Procurement Act 2023.
DPA
Data Protection Act
UK legislation governing data protection and personal information.
DPIA
Data Protection Impact Assessment
An assessment used to identify and manage privacy risks in activities involving personal data.
DPS
Dynamic Purchasing System
An older electronic procurement tool that remained open to new suppliers during its lifetime. DPS has been replaced by dynamic markets for new procurements under the Procurement Act 2023.
DPSA
Dynamic Purchasing System Agreement
An agreement setting out the rules and conditions of participation in a DPS.
DRP
Disaster Recovery Plan
A documented plan of agreed processes used to recover systems, data, or services after a serious incident. Similar to BCP (above).
DSA
Data Sharing Agreement
An agreement setting out how organisations share and protect data.
DV
Developed Vetting
A higher level of UK security clearance, which is often required to work in secure environments and with commissioners such as the MoJ and MoD.
EDI
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Policies and practices supporting fair, inclusive, and accessible services and workplaces.
EOI
Expression of Interest
A supplier’s early confirmation that they are interested in a potential opportunity.
ESG
Environmental, Social and Governance
A framework for assessing sustainability, ethical practice, social impact, and governance. This links in with Social Value also.
FA
Framework Agreement
A commercial arrangement through which buyers can award future call-off contracts to appointed suppliers.
FCA
Framework Call-Off Agreement
A contract awarded under a framework agreement.
FOI
Freedom of Information
Rules allowing the public to request information from public bodies.
FOIA
Freedom of Information Act
The legislation governing Freedom of Information requests in the UK.
FTE
Full-Time Equivalent
A way of measuring workforce capacity, where one FTE equals one full-time role (e.g., 37.5 hours worked per week = 1 FTE per week).
FTS
Find a Tender Service
The UK service where higher-value public sector opportunities are advertised, which has replaced the previously used OJEU since the UK departed the EU.
GDPR
General Data Protection Regulation
Data protection law covering how personal data is collected, used, stored, and protected.
H&S
Health and Safety
Policies, procedures, and legal duties relating to safe working practices
SHEQ
Safety, Health, Environmental and Quality
This can be a specific role/function in an organisation, such as a construction company, where they are responsible for environmental and quality performance as well as health and safety.
HMG
His Majesty’s Government
Used in UK government documents and procurement materials.
ICO
Information Commissioner’s Office
The UK regulator for data protection and information rights, which suppliers must subscribe to if/when handling personal data.
ICS
Integrated Care System
Partnerships bringing together NHS organisations, Local Authorities, and others to plan and deliver health and care services.
ISA
Information Sharing Agreement
Similar to a data sharing agreement, often used where organisations exchange information during service delivery.
ISO
International Organization for Standardisation
A body that develops international standards, often referenced in accreditations such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 27001.
ISO 9001
Quality Management Standard
An internationally recognised standard for quality management systems.
ISO 14001
Environmental Management Standard
An internationally recognised standard for environmental management systems.
ISO 27001
Information Security Management Standard
An internationally recognised standard for information security management systems.
ITB
Invitation to Bid
A formal invitation from a buyer typically used for a lower-value contract or within an already established framework.
ITN
Invitation to Negotiate
A document inviting shortlisted suppliers to enter negotiation with the buyer.
ITT
Invitation to Tender
A formal invitation from a buyer asking suppliers to submit a tender response.
KPI
Key Performance Indicator
A measurable performance target used to assess service delivery.
MAT
Most Advantageous Tender
Current procurement language under the Procurement Act 2023, replacing the older emphasis on “most economically advantageous tender.”
MEAT
Most Economically Advantageous Tender
Older procurement language meaning the best overall tender based on quality, price, and value, not simply the lowest price
MI
Management Information
Data and reporting information used to monitor contract performance, spend, service levels, and outcomes.
MIS
Management Information System
The system that your organisation uses to collect and/or collate the data and reporting information you use to monitor your performance.
MOI
Memorandum of Information
A document giving suppliers background information about an opportunity, organisation, project, or procurement.
MSME
Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise
A broader term sometimes used to include microbusinesses.
NUTS
Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics
Geographic classification codes previously used in procurement notices and still visible in older documents.
Ofsted
Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills
The regulator and inspectorate for education, children’s services, and skills providers.
OJEU
Official Journal of the European Union
Previously used for publishing higher-value public procurement notices before Brexit; still seen in older procurement documents.
PA 2023 / PA23
Procurement Act 2023
Current UK procurement legislation for new procurements under the new regime.
PAYE
Pay As You Earn
The UK system for collecting income tax and National Insurance from employees.
PCR 2015
Public Contracts Regulations 2015
The previous main UK public procurement regulations, now replaced for new procurements by the Procurement Act 2023, subject to transitional arrangements.
PIN
Prior Information Notice
A notice that alerts the market to a future procurement opportunity. This gives suppliers opportunity to plan ahead with solution design and evidence collation.
PQQ
Pre-Qualification Questionnaire
An older or commonly used term for a questionnaire used to shortlist suppliers before a full tender stage.
PSQ
Procurement Specific Questionnaire
Similar to a PQQ – a questionnaire issued as part of PA23, used to gather supplier-specific information relevant to the particular contract opportunity, enabling the contracting authority to assess bidders’ suitability, capability, and compliance against defined requirements.
QA
Quality Assurance
Checks and processes used to make sure a service, document, or bid response meets required standards.
QC
Quality Control
Operational checks used to identify errors, defects, or issues in delivery.
QMS
Quality Management System
A system used to manage quality processes, responsibilities, procedures, and continuous improvement.
RA
Risk Assessment
A document identifying risks and the controls used to reduce or manage them.
RAG
Red, Amber, Green
A status rating used to show whether performance, risk, or progress is on track.
RAMS
Risk Assessment and Method Statement
Documents commonly used in works, facilities, construction, maintenance, and operational contracts to explain risks and safe working methods for a specific task.
RFI
Request for Information
An early-stage request used by buyers to gather market information before launching a formal procurement.
RFP
Request for Proposal
A request for suppliers to propose a solution, often used where the buyer wants approach, value, and commercial offer.
RFQ
Request for Quotation
A request for suppliers to provide prices for defined goods, works, or services.
SIC
Standard Industrial Classification
Codes used to classify business activities, such as Q86102 for Medical nursing home activities.
SLA
Service Level Agreement
An agreement setting out expected service standards, such as response times, availability, or quality thresholds.
SME
Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise
A business below certain size thresholds, often referenced in procurement policy and supplier diversity.
SME Input
Subject Matter Expert Input
Contributions from people with technical, operational, commercial, or service-specific expertise. Different from SME meaning small and medium-sized enterprise.
SOP
Standard Operating Procedure
A documented process explaining how a task or service should be carried out to a high quality.
SQ
Selection Questionnaire
A questionnaire used to assess supplier suitability, experience, financial standing, and compliance.
SSQ
Standard Selection Questionnaire
A standardised questionnaire used to collect supplier information during supplier selection. Similar to a PQQ and PSQ.
TUPE
Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment
Employment protections that may apply when staff transfer from one provider to another as part of a contract change, often used in recurrent procurement such as Facilities Management and Health and Social Care.
UK GDPR
United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation
The UK version of GDPR, applying after Brexit alongside the Data Protection Act 2018.
VAT
Value Added Tax
A tax applied to many goods and services.
VCSE
Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise
Organisations in the voluntary and community sector, including charities and social enterprises.
Understanding these terms is crucial to ensure that you do not make costly mistakes when creating high quality bid and tender responses. It is also important to ensure that you do not assume terms that you are already familiar with have the same meaning for different commissioning bodies, and each tender pack will often have its own glossary defining what key terms mean to them.
Another mistake that some organisation use is assuming that now older terminology will not still be used in future bid and contract documentation. We still regularly see key terms such as PQQ, OJEU, MEAT, or DPS, even though procurement language and legislation around them has changed over time. These terms will often still appear in legacy frameworks, older templates, or supplier conversations so you need to make sure you maintain an understanding of these terms and clarify their use if you see them being used erroneously before a new contract or framework agreement is signed.
Where the Evolve Network Group can help
External bid support can be useful when procurement terminology is slowing down your team, creating uncertainty, or increasing the risk of a non-compliant response.
A bid specialist can help interpret tender documents, identify key requirements, review scoring criteria, structure responses, develop and collate evidence, and translate internal knowledge into buyer-focused language. This can be particularly valuable for businesses that are new to bidding, entering a new sector, responding to a major framework, or dealing with unfamiliar compliance requirements.
Evolve can support organisations with bid readiness, opportunity qualification, bid writing, bid review, quality assurance, and wider bid management. Whether you need help understanding the terminology in a tender pack or support developing a full submission, having the right guidance can save time, reduce risk, and improve the quality of your response.
